Flying Emus
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in Sydney, Australia |
| Defunct | 1990 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2013 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Studio albums, compilation albums |
Flying Emus is an Australian ensemble specializing in country and bluegrass genres, established in 1984. They produced four studio albums, notably This Town, which received the ARIA Award for Best Country Album in 1988. The band dissolved in 1990 but reunited in 2013 with original members John Kane (guitar, mandolin), Genni Kane (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Kerin (violin, mandolin), Ian Simpson (banjo), alongside newcomer Michael Vidale (bass guitar).
1984–1991
Originating in Sydney in 1984, siblings Genni and John Kane joined forces with Mike Kerin and Ian Simpson to form Flying Emus, focusing on country and bluegrass styles. Their first album, Look Out Below (1985), garnered Instrumental of the Year at the 1986 CMAA Country Music Awards, where they also received Vocal Group of the Year for "Diamond Creek". They repeated the Instrumental of the Year win in 1987 for "Emu Strut". In October 1986, they opened for Steeleye Span at Canberra Theatre, earning acclaim for their instrumental prowess.
In 1987, the release of This Town coincided with a support performance for Suzanne Vega at Sydney Town Hall. Although some critiques questioned the venue's appropriateness, the album secured Best Country Album at the 1988 ARIA Awards. That same year, they won Instrumental of the Year for "Jackaroo" and Vocal Group of the Year for "Auctioneer".
Their 1989 album Postcards from Paradise was nominated for Best Country Album at the 1990 ARIA Awards. Later that year, they released their final studio album before disbanding: Thank You and Goodnight. In 1991, they once again received Instrumental of the Year for "Dixie Breakdown".
2013–present: Reformation and The Collection
At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 2013, John Kane revealed Flying Emus’ reunion. By December 2013, plans were underway for a January 2014 tour featuring founding members John and Genni Kane, Simpson, Kerin, plus Michael Vidale on bass guitar. On 10 January 2014, Warner Music issued a compilation titled Flying Emus: The Collection, encompassing selections from their four albums spanning 1984 to 1990. 4ZZZ highlighted their exceptional bluegrass expertise within a broad repertoire that includes country, pop, and traditional folk.
Members
- Genni Kane (Genevieve Wilby) – lead vocals, guitar
- John Kane – guitar, mandolin
- Mike Kerin – violin, mandolin, guitar, vocals
- Ian Simpson – banjo, guitar
- Hanuman Dass – percussion
- Graham Thompson – bass guitar
- Michael Vidale – bass guitar
- Malcolm Wakeford – drums, percussion
- Wayne Goodwin – violin
- Lucky Oceans – pedal steel guitar
- Michael Rose – pedal steel guitar
Discography
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Look Out Below |
|
| This Town |
|
| Postcards From Paradise |
|
| Thank You and Goodnight |
|
| The Collection 1984–1990 |
|
Singles
| Track Title | Release Year | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Wheeler/Dealer" | 1985 | Look Out Below |
| "It's a Sunburnt Country" | 1986 | This Town |
| "I'm In Love with Love" | 1987 | |
| "Hey Sister" | 1988 | |
| "This Town" | ||
| "I Just Want to Dance With You" | Postcards from Paradise | |
| "Different Drum" | 1989 | |
| "I Don't Know About That" | Thank You and Goodnight | |
| "Dixie Breakdown" | 1990 |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are held annually to celebrate outstanding achievements and innovation within the Australian music industry. Flying Emus received one win from a total of five nominations. |- |rowspan="2"| 1988 ||rowspan="2"| This Town || Best Country Album || |- | Best Indigenous Release || |- |rowspan="2"| 1989 || "I Just Want to Dance With You" || Best Country Album || |- | "This Town" / "Darling Street" || Best Indigenous Release || |- | 1990 || Postcards From Paradise || Best Country Album ||
Country Music Awards of Australia
Since 1973, the Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA), also known as the Golden Guitar Awards, have been conducted annually during the Tamworth Country Music Festival to honor excellence in Australian country music. Flying Emus have earned six awards throughout their career. |- | 1986 || "Look Out Below" || Instrumental of the Year || |- | 1986 || "Diamond Creek" || Vocal Group of the Year || |- | 1987 || "Emu Strut" || Instrumental of the Year || |- | 1988 || "Auctioneer" || Vocal Group of the Year || |- | 1988 || "Jackaroo" || Instrumental of the Year || |- | 1991 || "Dixie Breakdown" || Instrumental of the Year ||